Minutes

Minutes of the meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority held on 24 July 2003 at 10 Dean Farrar Street, London, SW1H 0NY.

Present

Members

• Toby Harris (Chair)
• Richard Barnes (Deputy Chair)
• R David Muir (Deputy Chair)
• Anthony Arbour
• Jennette Arnold
• Cindy Butts
• Kirsten Hearn
• Peter Herbert
• Elizabeth Howlett
• Diana Johnson
• Jenny Jones
• Nicholas Long
• Noel Lynch
• R. David Muir
• Eric Ollerenshaw
• Sir John Quinton
• Richard Sumray
• Graham Tope
• Abdal Ullah
• Rachel Whittaker
• Cecile Wright

MPA officers

• Catherine Crawford (Clerk)
• Ken Hunt (Deputy Treasurer)
• David Riddle (Deputy Clerk)
• Simon Vile (Head of Secretariat)

MPS officers

• Sir Ian Blair (Acting Commissioner)
• Steve House (Deputy Assistant Commissioner)
• Alastair Thompson (Acting Director of Resources)
• Ailsa Beaton (Director of Information)
• Michael Aston (C3i Programme Director)
• Martin Tiplady (Director of Human Resources)

Part 1

9. Apologies for absence

(Agenda item 1)

Apologies for absence were received from Reshard Auladin, Lynne Featherstone and the Commissioner; for late arrival from Jenny Jones; and for early departure from Rachel Whittaker.

10. Declarations of interest

(Agenda item 2)

No declarations of interest were made.

11. Minutes

(Agenda item 3)

Resolved – That the minutes of the ordinary and annual meetings of the Authority held on 26 June 2003 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

12. Question to the authority and related motion

(Agenda item 4)

In accordance with Standing Orders, the Authority received a question from Mr. Nicholas Russell. The question and the reply given by the Clerk are shown below:
Question from Mr Nicholas Russell

“We are appalled by the Disability Rights Commission (Scotland) survey (2002) which showed that a quarter of disabled people have experienced harassment related to their disability and one in 20 experience this harassment on a regular basis. We are also dismayed by "Breaking the Chain of Hate - a national survey examining levels of homophobic crime and community confidence towards the police service" by the National Advisory Group (1999) which showed that two thirds of the sample of 2,656 people had experienced at least one homophobic incident.

We therefore welcome the work of the Metropolitan Police in recording and campaigning against all forms of hate crime. Will the Metropolitan Police Authority therefore join with the Association of Police Authorities in supporting an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to introduce increased sentences for crimes aggravated by prejudice towards women, gay, lesbian and bisexual people and disabled people and ask its Chair to write to the Home Secretary to this effect. As the scrutiny and policy development body for the Metropolitan Police Service will the Police Authority also encourage the force to further develop their work to combat hate crime and to support the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill?”

Response by the Clerk

“Can I thank Mr Russell for putting this question to the Authority. As it is linked to a motion in similar terms from Kirsten Hearn, I propose to limit my remarks to some background information so that members can proceed to debate the motion and decide the Authority’s position on this issue.

As Mr Russell intimates, the Metropolitan Police continue to develop their response to hate crimes. This is reflected not only in arrest rates, but also, for instance, in the recording, or flagging, of various kinds of hate crime and in developing third party reporting to give victims greater confidence to report such crimes. Recent strategies have included the ‘Cut Out Hate Crime’ campaign launched during November last year and more recently various faith/hate crime campaigns. There are now 134 third party reporting sites operational throughout the MPS.

At its last meeting the Authority’s Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board considered a full report by the Commissioner on the long term trends in racist and homophobic crime performance. This may be of interest to Mr Russell and I will arrange for a copy to be sent to him. Later on today’s agenda, the Authority will consider an end of year report on the Met’s performance. I would refer members to paragraphs 10 to 13 of this report, which deal with hate crimes. Members will note that the judicial disposal rates for race, homophobic and domestic violence crime have increased and have exceeded their targets.

The Authority will, through its Planning, Performance and Review Committee and the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Board, continue to encourage a proactive and inclusive approach to hate crime.

Mr Russell, and Kirsten Hearn in her motion, are seeking the Authority’s support for an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill. I understand this to be the amendment moved by Lord Dholakia and Baroness Harris of Richmond, to insert a new clause in the Bill, to increase sentences for hate crimes, which are defined as offences motivated by hostility towards people on the basis of their race, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Incidentally, I understand that, whilst broadly supportive of the proposals, the Association of Police Authorities has no plans to lobby on them.

I do not propose to read out the amendment, but it is reproduced in the version of this response which has been tabled for members. I suggest that the Chair now invites Kirsten Hearn to introduce her motion. Mr Russell has asked if his right of reply to my response could be exercised after members have debated the motion, and before Kirsten’s right of reply as mover of the motion. I suggest that this be agreed in this instance, given the interrelationship between his question and the motion.”

The Chair then invited Kirsten Hearn to introduce and move her motion, as follows:

“That the Authority:

1. welcomes the Metropolitan Police Service's recent introduction of 'flagging' of hate crimes committed against disabled and elderly people and their current inclusive campaign to combat hate crimes across all London's Communities.
2. resolves to join with the Association of Police Authorities in supporting an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to introduce increased sentences for crimes aggravated by prejudice towards women, lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals and disabled people and asks the Chair of the Authority to write to the Home Secretary in support of this amendment.
3. resolves also to ask the Home Secretary to add to the above mentioned amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to include increased sentences for crimes aggravated by prejudice towards elderly people and transsexuals.
4. further resolves to encourage the MPS to continue to develop its work in combating hate crimes against all London's communities and strongly encourages the Commissioner to publicly support the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill.”

Noel Lynch seconded the motion.

Following debate and unsuccessful amendments, the following amendment – moved by Richard Sumray – was passed and became the substantive motion.

Resolved – That the Authority:

1. welcomes the Metropolitan Police Service's recent introduction of 'flagging' of hate crimes committed against disabled and elderly people and their current inclusive campaign to combat hate crimes across all London's Communities.
2. resolves to support the amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill moved by Lord Dholakia and Baroness Harris of Richmond in the following terms:

and asks the Chair of the Authority to write to the Home Secretary in support of this amendment.

3. 3. resolves also to ask the Home Secretary to add to the above mentioned amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to include increased sentences for crimes aggravated by prejudice towards elderly people and transsexuals.
4. further resolves to encourage the MPS to continue to develop its work in combating hate crimes against all London's communities and strongly encourages the Commissioner to publicly support the proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill.

13. Minutes of committees

(Agenda item 5)

The Authority received the draft minutes of the following committees:

• Co-ordination & Policing Committee, 20 June
• Consultation Committee, 25 June

14. Chair’s, Members’ and Clerk’s updates

(Agenda item 6)

The Authority noted updates given by the Chair and other members.

15. Acting Commissioner’s update

(Agenda item 7)

The Acting Commissioner updated the Authority on a number of issues:

Crime performance

He reported that targets were broadly being achieved. The month of June had seen the lowest number of burglaries for 25 years. Gun crime had reduced by 6.4% in the financial year to date; autocrime was down 6% and since January armed robberies at banks and building societies had fallen by over 75%. Although June had seen the lowest recorded daily rate since December 2002, the 10% reduction target remained challenging.

Given the impact on borough policing initiatives, members again expressed interest in receiving a report to give them a better understanding of abstractions – the Acting Commissioner said that consideration would be given as to how this might be done.

Incident at Buckingham Palace

The Acting Commissioner confirmed that the recent incident involving an invited guest had not been a breach of security.

Notting Hill Carnival

The Acting Commissioner reported on arrangements for the Carnival. It was intended to stagger police officers’ start and finish times so that more officers would be on duty but for less time. He expressed concern that to date funding for only 200 stewards had been identified, a half of the previous year’s total.

Nicholas Long pointed to the unprecedented levels of co-operation with the statutory authorities for this year’s carnival. He also expressed frustration at the very slow progress of the Mayor’s carnival review.

Richard Barnes asked to be informed of the extent to which the MPS had been consulted about the forthcoming Mela in Gunnersbury Park.

16. 2002/03 end of year performance report

(Agenda item 8)

The Authority considered a report by the Clerk on the MPS end of year performance against policing plan objectives and targets.

With regard to paragraph 16 of the report, members were interested in considering further the issues around the placement of police officers in schools and, for instance, the legal position where schools resist such an initiative, given the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act. A report is due to be presented to the next Planning, Performance and Review Committee on policing in schools and it might be appropriate for this to be considered by the Authority (instead of or as well as the committee).

Resolved – That the report be noted.

17. MPA committee annual reports 2002/03

(Agenda item 9)

The Authority received annual reports from its committees.

Richard Barnes suggested that the Consultation Committee annual report should be sent to Community Police Consultative Groups for information, as the relationship between the MPA and CPCGs was referred to in para 9.1 of the report.

Resolved – That the annual reports be noted.

18. MPS response to HMIC inspection of 2002/03

(Agenda item 10)

The Authority considered a report by the Clerk on the MPS’s response to the HMIC inspection.

Resolved – That the Secretary of State be informed of the Authority’s satisfaction with the progress shown by the MPS, as reflected in the HMI report, and that the MPS response to the recommendations made be endorsed, subject to comments on the following issues:

• the filling of civil staff posts by police officers
• addressing civil staff growth issues as a consequence of officer growth
• the need to get away from a concentration on pure police numbers, for instance through the operational police measure
• developing greater emphasis on a strategy-led approach and achieving greater linkages between the policing plan and organisational culture.

19. C3i/Airwave position report

(Agenda item 11)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner on the progress of this programme.

Richard Sumray asked for the next update report to include more detail on the Modernising Operations work.

Resolved – That the Authority notes the content of the report and endorses the following:

1. the progress made to date
2. the change from a project to a programme
3. the revised governance structure.

20. Staff associations and recruitment

(Agenda item 12)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner on the staff support associations in the MPS and their role in supporting the attraction and recruitment of staff to reflect London’s diverse communities.

It was noted that a Disabled Staff Association had recently been formed.

Richard Barnes asked for information on the support given by the MPS, in money or kind, to staff associations.

Resolved –That the report be noted.

21. Review of the Resource Allocation Formula

(Agenda item 13)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner on a proposed project timetable for a review of the Resource Allocation Formula (RAF) to enable a revised formula to be in place for the 2005/06 financial year.

Members had concerns about the timetable as proposed. In particular they felt that it was important to allow sufficient time for consultation both at an early stage and on the final proposals. The scope of the review included some major issues of policy and members would want to consider these further in more detail when considering a revised timetable. Richard Sumray considered that it would be helpful, as part of the review, to understand more about the elements outside the formula, such as Commissioner’s Judgement and Capital City. In line with the motion moved at the previous Authority meeting, Anthony Arbour suggested that the RAF review should consider the link with the precept. Nicholas Long suggested that in the future account should be taken of the total resource requirements across all MPS services and not just the allocation to borough commands.

Resolved -

1. that further work is needed on the timetable to address concerns about, for instance:
   • the need to seek evidence and views at an early stage from key stakeholders, particularly local authorities
   • the time allowed for the final consultation process
2. that the Co-ordination & Policing Committee should oversee the RAF review process; and
3. that a revised timetable should be presented to an early meeting of that committee, together with an issues paper on the process and what will be included in it.

22. Congestion charging update

(Agenda item 14)

The Authority considered a report by the Commissioner providing an update on the pilot to reimburse the congestion charge paid by some staff under certain circumstances.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

23. Action taken under delegated authority

(Agenda item 15)

The Authority considered a report by the Clerk on urgent action taken under delegated authority since the last meeting of the Authority.

Resolved – That the report be noted.

The meeting ended at 12.30 p.m.

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